When picnics were authorised for fully vaccinated citizens last month, the city's parks filled with happy residents looking for some safe, outdoor socialisation.
Catering company Sea Salt and Sage provided food boxes during the period and co-owner Leah Della-Grotta said she can see the picnic trend continuing even as venues are reopening.
"I think people fell back in love with picnics and being outside," she said.
"I drove past Lambton Park last weekend and I'd never seen that many people in that park.
"We're happy to keep doing the boxes as long as people want them."
The boxes and contactless delivery meals kept the Hamilton business going during lockdown, after taking a hit from cancelled bookings and having to refund deposits paid.
"That hit us hard, more so than last time," Ms Della-Grotta said.
"It was a big chunk of change to hand over.
"There was no way we could have shut our doors."
But the business is now back up and running for weddings and events with bookings coming in thick and fast.
They also recently took over management of the Cooks Hill Surf Club kitchen of a Sunday afternoon after a successful pop-up last year.
The popular seaside venue overlooking Bar Beach now offers a Cicchetti menu - otherwise known as "Italian tapas".
Ms Della-Grotta said the re-opening day on Sunday was a hit.
"It was so beautiful," she said. "It was so lovely to talk to people and answer questions about food and even talk about how brilliant the weather was.
"A lot of regulars that came in before lockdown were there.
"That view is second to none and people who run it are gorgeous."
Ms Della-Grotta said the challenge for the business at the moment was being short-staffed due to some employees awaiting their second vaccinations. But she said she hadn't had any issues with staff not wanting to receive the jab, and expected more hands on deck in coming weeks.
